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Volume 89, No. 01 http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/jawf/wwcb.html January 2, 2002 LLETIN U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Agricultural Statistics Service National Weather Service and World Agricultural Outlook Board NEXRAD Radar Image Buffalo, NY 2/24/2001 05 pm, EST HIGHLIGHTS Contents December 23 - 29, 2001 Highlights provided by USDA/WAOB Total Precipitation & Temperature Departure Maps A major change in the upper-air pattern, with Extreme Minimum Temperature Map Weather Data for the Delta and Bootheel & ridging (high pressure) in the West and Extreme Minimum Wind Chill Temperature Map ... troughing (low pressure) in the East, took hold by the National Weather Data for Selected Cities National Agricultural Summary & fourth full week of December. This brought below Snow Cover Map normal temperatures (departures -3 to -6°F) and December State Agricultural Summaries International Weather and Crop Summary & tranquil weather to much of the eastern two-thirds of December Temperature/Precipitation Table ... the Nation after nearly 2 months of near-record Subscription Information & December 25 Drought Monitor warmth, and somewhat milder and drier conditions to the West. As the dry, cold Canadian air crossed the unseasonably mild Great Lakes surfaces, the lake- effect snow machine kicked into full gear. Moderate (Continued on page 3) Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin January 2, 2002 Total Precipitation (Inches) j YX ee Nar oe \ AXA S42 to 4 VY 1 to 2 LA | | >.5 tot | 0.1 to 0.5 Ee] <0.1, boot CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER, NOAA Computer generated contours Based on preliminary data Departure of Average Temperature from Normal (°F) DEC 23 - 29, 2001 CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER, NOAA omputer generated contours ninary data HAWAIIAN |S January 2, 2002 Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin Extreme Minimum Temperature (°F) (Continuferodm front cover) to heavy snows blanketed downwind - 29, 2001 locations south of Lake Superior, east of Lake Michigan, and east of Lakes Erie and Ontario. Unfortunately, Buffalo, NY provided an incredible example of how persistent lake-effect snows can bury an area in a short amount of time. From December 24-28, an unprecedented 81.5 inches of snow buried the Buffalo-Niagara airport, shattering numerous snowfall records. As a comparison, Buffalo normally Jose CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER, NOAA receives 93.5 inches the entire winter L\Ses-3s |~ ' 2 Computer genercted contours season. Significant precipitation (1 to Based on preliminary dato 3 inches) also fell on central California and the Sierra Nevada, although the building ridge in the HAWAIIAN |S. West blocked the eastward) \ progression of storm systems into the Pacific Northwest, keeping weekly totals under an inch. Meanwhile, little or no precipitation fell continued unabated. As Buffalo’s snows diminished on the Plains, leaving most areas without a protective snow Tuesday (but not before establishing the 4" greatest 24-hour cover as soils remained unfavorably dry across Montana and snowfall on record at 25.2 inches), lower Michigan’s lake- parts of Kansas and Oklahoma. Mostly dry weather eased effect snows increased, totaling a record 11.9 and 9.6 inches flooding and helped dry out topsoils in eastern Texas and on December 26 and 27, respectively, at Grand Rapids, MI. the Delta northward through the Ohio Valley, but worsened Besides re-enforcing shots of cold air across the Midwest, drought conditions in the southern Atlantic Coastal Plain, South, and East, the rest of the Nation experienced rather further stressing pastures and winter wheat. The cold weather tranquil weather. On Thursday morning, it was cold enough kept winter wheat dormant in the Midwest and halted the in parts of Texas and Louisiana to equal or break record growth of winter crops and pastures in the South. lows at Austin-Bergstrom, TX (24°F), New Iberia, LA Temperatures fell near or slightly below freezing as far south (25°F), Lake Charles, LA (28°F), and Beaumont, TX as the Gulf Coast, including Louisiana’s sugarcane and (30°F). Florida’s northern citrus areas. However, temperatures did not drop low enough to cause significant damage. Heavy lake-effect snows returned to Buffalo on Thursday, with daily record amounts of 21.9 and 26.2 inches on As the week commenced, a storm system swept eastward December 27 and 28, which also included the 2" greatest 24- through the Midwest and Delta, generating mostly light hour snow of 35.4 inches (their top 24-hour amount remains precipitation (less than 0.5 inch) ahead of the cold front in 37.9 inches on December 9-10, 1995). By the time the snow much of the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and New England. tapered off on Friday, 81.5 inches had buried Buffalo, easily In the upper Midwest, the December 23 storm finally leaving a December and all-time monthly record total of 82.7 brought the record-latest first measurable snow of the winter inches. Elsewhere, a Pacific storm system pushed into to some areas (La Crosse and Madison, WI, and Ft. California and weakened, but not before dropping a record Wayne, IN). By Monday afternoon, the front cleared the 1.29 inches of rain on Sacramento/Executive, CA on Atlantic Coast, and much colder and drier air covered areas December 28, and a near-record 1.27 and 1.14 inches of rain east of the Rockies. Widespread, sub-freezing lows finally on Stockton and Sacramento/Downtown, CA, respectively. encompassed much of the eastern two-thirds of the Nation, Along the Gulf Coast, a weak disturbance produced cloudy halting the growth of winter crops and pastures in the South, skies and widely-scattered light showers to much of the area, but sub-zero readings were confined to northern North which also kept readings mostly above freezing in the Dakota and Minnesota. Although the temperature drop was Louisiana sugarcane and Florida citrus regions. quite dramatic from the previous week, no daily-record lows were broken as temperatures only fell to more typical winter In Hawaii, an unusual weather pattern kept the western and levels. On Monday, lake-effect snows began in earnest across eastern-most islands (normally wet windward locations of the Great Lakes, where Buffalo had only netted 1.6 inches the Big Island (Kona) and Kauai) mostly dry, while the of snow prior to December 24. By Christmas morning, a central islands (most of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and total of 20.5 (1.66 inches liquid equivalent) and 13.0 inches leeward locations of Kona) reported scattered light to of snow had whitened Buffalo, NY and Marquette, MI, moderate showers early and late in the week. In Alaska, last respectively, both breaking December 24 records. week’s Arctic chill was replaced with modified maritime air, Meanwhile, the last vestiges of warmth in the Southeast raising highs into the thirties and forties in the interior as disappeared courtesy of a cold front, but not before temperature departures generally ranged between +10 and Hollywood, FL notched a record high of 85°F on Christmas. +18°F, with up to +26°F at Ft. Yukon. Only the southwestern section of the state averaged slightly colder By mid-week, mostly dry and cold conditions were common than normal, and significant precipitation was confined to the across the contiguous United States as lake-effect snows western, southern, and southeastern coast of Alaska. Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin January 2, 2002 Weather Data for Selected Locations in the Delta and the Bootheel Weather Data for the Week Ending December 29, 2001 Data provided by the Mississippi State Delta Research and Extension Center (DREC), the Southern Regional Climate Center (SRCC), and the University of Missouri. TEMPERATURE °F PRECIPITATION SOILT EMP, RTEMpP.Er e°FU EsN ePLtTPREsE COI TPE T LR STATES VE AND IN IN., STATIONS AVMEARXAIGMEAU VMMEI RNAIGMEEUX MHT IRGEH MEEX TREMEA VERAGDEENF PORARORMMTA ULRW EET EOKTLALY GINR 2IEN4A -THEOSUTR , TOSDT1 eAIcLN ,C E NPCOTSD1R. eI McN ACEL NPCOTSJ1R. aI MnN ACEL AVMEARXAIGMEAU VMME IRNAIGMEUAA90 MBN O D BA32NE DL OWI01 N OMCRHO REI50N OMCRHO RE BATESVILLE *~ b nN@ p22L S) Ww ro) uo a] LoTI)&N O. @S,J1T= a IA NnLNR ,C E i) CLARKSDALE b ) LS) n b @®R CLEVELAND * ©Y i>)L OW» F O W rs n GREENVILLE * n WwwWp= hy ooooa anan @a oa GREENWOOD * INDIANOLA 1S INVERNESS 5E coo >P P ooo LYON MOORHEAD * ONWARD ROLLING FORK * aon na towop io SCOTT SIDON a}(D =2Sn) O WA TUNICA * TUNICA 1W NINO@D >oN NNND, VANCE VICKSBURG * YAZOO CiTy * STONEVILLE * CARDWELL CHARLESTON }oo co o CLARKTON io>h 9.84 DELTA NN= NN 0.00 6.66 GLENNONVILLE 0.00 8.57 ooo PORTAGEVILLE #1 41 IN 0.00 8.79 PORTAGEVILLE #2 41 0.00 8.40 STEELE 42 a|Gam =R n= ha a 0.00 -1.08 0.00 8.13 °) 50.26 ooo Compiled by USDA/OCE/WAOB’s Stoneville Field Office. * Based on 1964-93 normals. * Based on 1961-90 normals. Delta and Bootheel Weather and Crop Summary: A cold, Canadian airmass swept into the Delta and Bootheel, bringing slightly below-normal temperatures and dry conditions, which helped ease flooding concerns. The cool, dry weather slowed the growth of winter wheat not affected by recent flooding. Extreme Wind Chill Temperature (°F) 3, 2001 CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER, NOAA Computer generated contours Based on preliminary dota J BASKA F >AL_ me eadcmn,l" January 2, 2002 Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin National Weather Data for Selected Cities Weather Data for the Week Ending December 29, 2001 Data Provided by Climate Prediction Center (301-763-8000, Ext. 7503) TEMPERATURE °F PRECIPITATION HUMIDITY ae camo STA TES TEMP. °F PRECIP VE AND 3 STATIONS NT. ORMAL BANEDL OW AVMEARXAIGMEAU VMMEI RNAIGMEEUX MHT IRGEHM EEX LTORWE ME TINO TAL, DENFPORARORMMTA ULR GIENR 2IEN4.A -THEOUSRT,TI N O.1TSD,A IeLNc,C E SD1 eIcN CE OINT.IJ,A NaLnC,1E NCTO.IJ RaNMnC1AE L AVMEARXAIGMEAU VMME IRNAIGMEAAU9 0BNM OD 32 I01N MOCRHO REI50N MOCHRO RE BIRMINGHAM A8V ERAG BW© EQoEr orK) LY NR P~pS —a s @ roa 4 HUNTSVILLE °o © a)a N @ a ow MOBILE N ow MONTGOMERY mNwyo uaOon Oo DS)- > te @o © © @ ANCHORAGE Oo °o N o=n © N @oo a o o©O ©o coooo°o BARROW cDoomA= o>Docz ko>oioo ooa aoaeeai FAIRBANKS ° ~j =@~ N N “NNO JUNEAU @@©2® o b KODIAK NOME oeoo+no uyn a FLAGSTAFF ©oW ow wOo PHOENIX >NNOW TUCSON oomno o YUMA Qfne) FORT SMITH nN > @ @ ef= ocuono on LITTLE ROCK nN ouSon SO.+4yo: o r EaP ARTURE @ BAKERSFIELD > oS © @ FRESNO > MO N an On NSFF&FWHhO w RetROOOarMMeNOkA N_LDNn N OHKH N LOS ANGELES o REDDING oa@ a© SACRAMENTO pQw>n n ooo SAN DIEGO fe) ©@o &@a- o o SAN FRANCISCO © Ww ~bP_—ew e STOCKTON 2naw © N~ oecoC o ooooe oecoeoeoeeeeaoeee ALAMOSA N 0 CO SPRINGS noww unpeo ooW w 0 DENVER INTL @ 0 NNN GRAND JUNCTION 7 0 PUEBLO 0 BRIDGEPORT Qono 0 HARTFORD |oO—&- o@ ®@ @ we 0 WASHINGTON ~ a oO WILMINGTON oO DAYTONA BEACH @a wn o@ JACKSONVILLE PNDWDY MN W2 O &NOMC NNNN KEY WEST MIAMI oo?) De) ORLANDO &i=@ oooo;o PENSACOLA TALLAHASSEE sw w TAMPA WEST PALM aNnN ATHEN ATLANTA AUGUSTA COLUMBUS MACON SAVANNAH HILO HONOLULU KAHULU LIHUE BOISE LEWISTON POCATELLO CHICAGO/O'HARE MOLINE PEORIA ROCKFORD SPRINGFIELD EVANSVILLE FORT WAYNE INDIANAPOLIS SOUTH BEND BURLINGTON CEDAR RAPIDS ( 1 3 ) 0.0C DES MOINES 23 12 28 3 18 3 0.00 ).27 0.00 DUBUQUE 20 9 4 4 16 3 ).00 0.38 0.00 SIOUX CITY ) 5 ) WATERLOO CONCORDIA DODGE CITY GOODLAND 40 TOPEKA 35 Based on 1961-90 normals *** Not Available Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin January 2, 2002 Weather Data for the Week Ending December 29, 2001 TEMPERATURE °F PRECIPITATION HPUEMRICDEINTTY, TEM P[.e gu°eFt ecuntPeRaEmCeIeP STATES AND STATIONS AVMEARXAIGMEAU VME RAGEEX HTIRGEH ME AVERAGDEEFN PROAORRMMT AULR ETI NO TAL, DENFPORARORMMTA ULR GIENR 2IEN4.A -THEOUSRT, TI NOD S1Te IAcLN ,C E PNCOTSD1R. eI McN ACLE TINO.S,JT aIAnNL1C, E PNCOTSJ1.R aI nMN ACEL AVMEARXAIGMEAU VMMEI RNAIGMEAUA9 0NMB D O VE BA32NE DL OWI01 N CH I50N CH WICHITA B© WESEo KLY f=) o So N oe> JACKSON nN oO OnoN ° @< onON n@1o <a LEXINGTON ai n oO wG >o i) x) LOUISVILLE D©N® EMINIMUM o© a= PADUCAH =N ny N -Ww BATON ROUGE w a LAKE CHARLES nWwhW -0.60 wwnnvnnn NEW ORLEANS -0.61 SHREVEPORT 0.90 CARIBOU -0.18 Own PORTLAND bNUbO N 0.56 ra) BALTIMORE -0.43 ano BOSTON -0.08 0O=oMf RO c RE0 099090000000 WORCESTER 0.24 ALPENA 0.38 D@O® aNp GRAND RAPIDS >) NNNONNNADND HOUGHTON LAKE LANSING 2W“Nnw N |aOoo NN eOYmCOnGeRONEnR tAeNeO NNNOWNN MUSKEGON TRAVERSE CITY DULUTH INT'L FALLS MINNEAPOLIS 8 2 NNNNN ROCHESTER f rs - -3 0 0.20 ST. CLOUD 2c 2 0.00 0.17 Oo JACKSON os 3 : -2 67 -0.67 MERIDIAN 5 2 4 22 42 -5 0.55 0.83 TUPELO 5 7 39 - ¢ 0.58 COLUMBIA : 1 6 2 | 1.00 0.49 KANSAS CITY 323 16 3 2 3 0.0 0.33 SAINT LOUIS K 23 1 28 -3 0.0 0.61 NNNOOAEANN SPRINGFIELD : 1 § 1 - 0.00 0.62 BILLINGS 33 ~ 3¢ 7 2 ) 0.01 0.18 BUTTE 2 -0.11 GLASGOW 0.07 cocoooooo+-+-+ GREAT FALLS -0.19 ° HAVRE -0.14 KALISPELL ON@AN -0.33 oo MISSOULA 0.19 NNNNNNWOo NWN GRAND ISLAND 0.14 “N LINCOLN oaa N= N 0.14 NORFOLK o 1.15 eeoeoSeo aeoooNsoNc ooeoeooocsoeo esoooooecoesoooaocoooecHp NORTH PLATTE OMAHA =af F SCOTTSBLUFF VALENTINE wwo ELY LAS VEGAS RENO WINNEMUCCA CONCORD NEW ALBUQUERQUE ALBANY BINGHAMTON BUFFALO ROCHESTER SYRACUSE ASHEVILLE CHARLOTTE GREENSBORO HATTERAS RALE|K WILMINGTON DICKINSON FARGO GRAND FORKS JAMESTOWN WILLISTON AKRON-CANTON CINCINNAT CLEVELAND COLUMBUS DAYTON MANSFIELD Based on 1961-90 normals *** Not Available January 2, 2002 Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin Weather Data for the Week Ending December 29, 2001 TEMPERATURE °F PRECIPITATION aor, TEMPP. e°F onPRE CIP STATES AND STATIONS AVMEARXAIGMAEUV MMEI RNAIGMEU M EXLTORWE MEA VERAGDEE PARTURETI NO TAL, NFORROMMA L GINR EATEST TINO.DS,1T eIAcLN ,C E NPCOTSDR.eI McNA1C LE TINO.SJ1,T aIAnLN ,C E NPCOTSJR.aI MnN1AC LE AVMEARXAIGMEAU VMMEI RNAIGMEAUA9 0BNM DO VE BA32NE DL OWI0 1N MOCHRO REI5 N0 CH TOLEDO a WOBE °E oK LY o 4 c YOUNGSTOWN Now- - = ©SDO& ESPo aA RTURE uoN- a@ NN 2° N an OKLAHOMA CITY > fo) Daa a 2&n NN ve)a woa s ° TULSA S B NooNon w @ oO _] oe ASTORIA nONo BURNS EUGENE r=No £o N-N O O©M0© FO2RO2ER 0 0 MEDFORD onw o o PENDLETON Nwan PORTLAND SALEM ALLENTOWN ERIE MIDOLETOWN PHILADELPHIA cso8So By8ceae oHooSuoruoino poeoorcoecsoc&os°o8/es 8 PITTSBURGH WILKES-BARRE WILLIAMSPORT PROVIDENCE cooocoe2FoWw= oNeA- eNoWoHoNo ceoocoo°oe¢ds BEAUFORT 2 So CHARLESTON Oo 0.00 COLUMBIA 0.00 GREENVILLE 0.29 ABERDEEN 0.02 HURON 0.00 RAPID CITY 0.00 SIOUX FALLS UW- NND? 0.09 BRISTOL LOS DD@MAON 0.20 CHATTANOOGA 0.35 KNOXVILLE 0.50 MEMPHIS 0.00 DO2io NASHVILLE NeGHOaHEFSOAOwSbRAR OSDSS O MhD wSMAD BL S O 0.3h3 ENaS oQooooeOodnencosncwcmeocnoe cedocnses ABILENE 0.00 —) o AMARILLO 0.00 “I oo- oc AUSTIN 0.03 o BEAUMONT 0.29 BROWNSVILLE 0.13 ooooW>wj eo - CORPUS CHRISTI 0.00 DEL RIO 0.00 >O= NN »©@ >eoeo EL PASO 0.00 FORT WORTH 0.00 oococooo n GALVESTON 0.06 oO HOUSTON bLoo0.3L2 EHOSLS ° LUBBOCK ) 00 MIDLAND 0.00 SAN ANGELO 0.01 ooo SAN ANTONIO 0.00 VICTORIA 0 WACO ooo WICHITA FALLS bOSOkDk N SALT LAKE CITY © BURLINGTON LYNCHBURG NORFOLK RICHMOND ROANOKE WASH/DULLES OLYMPIA OROANGA QUILLAYUTE NN SEATTLE-TACOMA aSsA neanad SPOKANE ION YAKIMA ©© BECKLEY CHARLESTON boaeran ELKINS HUNTINGTON EAU CLAIRE GREEN BAY LA CROSSE &Wo= - MADISON for)a > n MILWAUKEE © CASPER CHEYENNE LANDER “NOW SHERIDAN = Based on 1961-90 normals *** Not Available NOTE: These data are preliminary and subject to change. In the past, precipitation totals from a number of stations were incomplete. Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin January 2, 2002 National Agricultural Summary December 24 - 30, 2001 Weekly National Agricultural Summary provided by USDA/NASS HIGHLIGHTS Dry weather prevailed across most of the nation and forages throughout the South. during the final week of the year. Flood waters Warmer-than-normal temperatures and ample receded from low lying areas along the lower moisture supplies stimulated growth and Mississippi and Ohio River Valieys, but many development of winter crops in California, fields remained saturated. Scattered light although frequent showers hampered field and showers benefited winter grains and forages in orchard work. In the northern Great Plains, the Southeast and along the Atlantic Coastal near normal temperatures prevented winter kill, Plain, but long term moisture reserves remained even though fields had very little snow cover to short in most areas. Below-normal protect them. Mostly dry weather aided temperatures limited growth of winter grains fieldwork in Florida. snow Depth (Inches) Dec 31, 2001 The NWS cooperative network is the princip source of the snow depth report NOAA/USDA JOINT AGRICULTURAL WEATHER FACILITY January 2, 2002 Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin State Agricultural Summaries These summaries, issued weekly through the summer growing season, provide brief descriptions of crop and weather conditions important on a national scale. More detailed data are available in Weather and Crop Bulletins published each Monday by NASS State Statistical Offices in cooperation with the National Weather Service. The crop weather reports are also available on the Internet through the NASS Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov/nass/ or from JAWF at http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/jawf. ALABAMA: North: Things are pretty good, cattle prices high. Insect pressure seems high for this time of year. An remain reasonable. Cotton, corn, soybeans were all near harvest inspection of a field of oats with dead spots revealed a massive completion before the much needed rains for pastures, cover infestation of aphids. The problem so severe that many areas crops began setting in. Now if markets would just cooperate. contained dead, dried leaves and stems. Most farmers are Most row crops are already harvested. About 200 acres of cotton closely and carefully watching congressional movements on farm are all that is left in the fields. There has been dry weather up policies. Most local farm planning is delayed pending these until about the week of the 3° of December. Most pastures are actions. in poor to fair condition. Some farmers are already feeding hay to their cattle. Winter ryegrass grazing is low due to dry weather ALASKA: DATA NOT AVAILABLE the past few months. Wheat planting is almost complete. The few farmers that are not finished with cotton harvest have not planted wheat yet. Most farmers are finished with crop ARIZONA: Temperatures throughout the state were below harvesting, are working on tax, financial records. Machinery average for the month of December. Above average precipitation repair, upkeep is also going on. The warm weather this fall has was reported in the beginning of the month but tapered off during resulted in slow start on chill hour accumulation for most of the the latter half. Despite the precipitation in the early part of the state. Currently, total hours logged below 45° are about 150 month, the cotton harvest completion remained ahead of the five hours below average. Generally, most of the chilling needed to year average. In most parts of the state, range, pasture feeds fulfill the dormancy requirements of fruit crops is received remained mostly fair to good throughout the month. between December 15 and February 15, so we still have time to receive adequate chilling if the weather turns colder soon. On ARKANSAS: December was very wet with heavier than the other hand, the warm weather this fall has resulted in good normal rains statewide, and slight amounts of sleet and ice in the growth on the strawberry crop, which should improve yields for northern regions of the state. Early December precipitation totals growers this spring. Central and South: Still harvesting cotton ranged from 1 inch in the western counties to 5-6 inches in the (50% complete), some cotton received freeze damage in low eastern counties. Mid-month saw additional moisture ranging areas about one month ago. Approximately 400 acres in Butler from 2-4 inches throughout most of the state. Due to the heavy county. Winter grazing is up, growing, looking good. Some rainfall (2-4 inches above normal) from December 2 - 16, county cotton is averaging 1.5 bales, some late planted, freeze agents in some southern and eastern counties were estimating damaged cotton are not averaging as well. On other farms, up to 25% of their winter wheat was lost or damaged. Flooding farmers are scrapping and chopping stalks. Most cattlemen are was widespread across the state, with one-fourth of all southern feeding hay. Leading up to December it was very dry for most of and eastern counties reporting heavy flooding in some areas. the fall harvest season. This fall was excellent for cotton, peanut Replanting will begin when moisture subsides. Cattle were in harvest but almost approaching a severe drought for the planting good condition, but some pastures were covered in water, of small grains for grazing purposes. As for December, we have requiring extra feed and labor. Despite the excessive amounts received some much needed rainfall but could us 2-5inches of rainfall for the month, year-end annual rainfall totals will be during December to catch up on moisture for the year. Peanut three to five inches below normal. harvest has been complete for almost a month. Cotton harvest continues with good yields continuing throughout the fall. This is very late, but the dry weather has allowed farmers an opportunity CALIFORNIA: Unlike last year, December 2001 was wet. for this late harvest. Some area cotton farmers are pleased with Cotton harvesting was essentially completed by month’s end. the yields achieved from this 2001 cotton crop. Many producers Most areas were in compliance with plowdown requirements. report an average cotton yield of 1 % to 2 bales per acre. The Following harvest, cotton growers prepared fields for next grades have held through November being excellent. These will season's planting. Soil moisture levels in December were ideal decline, as rainfall, cool weather will affect cotton grades from for germination of small grains. Dryland and irrigated wheat were here until the end of harvest. Cotton yields look to be in the 650- thriving. A few fields of oats were green chopped. New fields of 700 pounds per acre range in some areas. Grazing for cattle has alfalfa were progressing well; some fields were sprayed for been widely planted and emerged. The problem for most weeds. Rain caused lodging of winter forage in a few areas. cattlemen has been lack of rainfall, grazing has been slow to Mylar was being used to scare birds away from young sugarbeet grow for most of the fall. Cattleman will be two to three weeks plants. Seasonal cultural activities such as pruning, grafting, later than normal turning cattle on small grains for grazing. Small cultivating, dormant spraying continued in orchards, vineyards grains planted for grain (wheat, oats, rye) are mostly all planted throughout the month. Some older variety trees, vines were with 90% emerged and doing well after the recent rainfall. Henry removed in preparation for planting replacements. Brush was county has planted about 2000 acres more acres of wheat this being shredded, disced, or piled for removal. December's wet fall representing a 25% increase. All other acreage of grain for conditions sometimes hampered orchard activity. Harvesting of seed seem to be at same levels as in 2000 season with about table grapes intended for fresh consumption was nearly 6,000 acres being planted. Winter forage annuals planted in mid completed by month’s end. The navel orange harvest was to late September for grazing have produced little growth. While gaining momentum. Sacramento Valley navel oranges were temperatures have remained unseasonable warm, lack of large, sweet this season. Grapefruit picking continued in the San moisture is the culprit for poor growth. Producers are hopeful Joaquin Valley. Lemon picking was active in central, southern that winter rains will increase the production of these forages. state. As January approached, Fresno County blueberry, Some permanent pastures (many still not dormant) have been strawberry plants were going dormant in response to winter overseeded this month in an attempt to gain more grazing. Pecan weather. Nut trees were being pruned, some old ones were crop looks very good. Most pecan trees observed throughout the removed. As December drew to a close, a few pecans were still county have fully loaded branches, pecan quality looks relatively 10 Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin January 2, 2002 being harvested in the San Joaquin Valley. Garlic, broccoli, Tobacco bed preparation continued. Farmers continued to feed onion fields displayed robust growth in response to December's more than the normal amount of hay to livestock due to the dry rains, good growing conditions. Irrigation was in progress in a conditions. Pasture feed was poor to fair. Dry conditions during few areas. Field preparation for new plantings of onions, December has slowed the growth of small grains. Other activities tomatoes, garlic continued as soil conditions permitted. Spring included: Land preparation for spring planting. cantaloupe fieids were being prepared for planting in Southern state. Some spinach fields were being sprayed for weeds. HAWAII: Southwesterly winds brought warm, humid Harvesting of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage continued. conditions to the State throughout most of the past week. Harvested fields were being prepared for the next crop rotation. Spraying for insect, disease control was returning to regular The following vegetables were also harvested: basil, carrots, schedules. Banana harvest was active. Papaya fields were in fair celery, cilantro, green onions, mustard greens, collard greens, to good condition with the drier weather benefitting orchard red, green leaf lettuce, kale, romaine lettuce, turnips, Thai chili progress. Chinese cabbage, head cabbage, romaine, other cool- peppers, parsley, radishes, sugar peas, spinach. The month's weather vegetabie crops were in mostly fair to good condition. above normal rainfall continued to improve winter pasture feeds Sunny, dry weather was favorable for ginger root cultivation, in many areas of central, northern state. Foothill streams were harvest. flowing. Supplemental feeding of cattle on foothill pastures continued to decline as the year ended. Late calving, lambing continued. Sheep were grazing in alfalfa, clover, or vegetable IDAHO: According to NRCS, snow water equivalent in state fields in central state. Southern desert area lambs were grazing is near or above normal which is encouraging for the upcoming on alfalfa or other hay pastures. As January approached, irrigation season. Good snow pack thus far in Northern, Eastern beekeepers prepared colonies for overwintering. areas is encouraging for good winter wheat survival. Hay, roughage supplies were reported to be mostly adequate, winter wheat was reported to be in mostly good conditions. Activities: COLORADO: December weather was warmer, drier than Preparing taxes, shop work, caring for livestock, gearing up for normal. Snowfall has been primarily in the mountain areas with calving, lambing season. limited moisture in lower elevations. The Eastern Plains remain dry. Mountain snow pack is significently below average. Winter wheat continues dormant in mostly good condition, but vulnerable ILLINOIS: Soil moisture 14% surplus, 80% adequate, 6 % to blowout, extreme low temperatures due to lack of snow cover. short. Mild temperatures during the month of December provided Major activities continue to center around feed and care of livestock, wheat with good growing conditions for this time of livestock, preparation for the upcoming lambing, calving activities. year. Some respiratory problems were noted with Cattle though when the weather was the most humid. Heavy rains that fell in southern state has caused some concern for the wheat crop DELAWARE: State farmers tend to winter activities as they going into winter. The lack of any snow cover has wheat growers feed livestock, spread manure, lime, fix equipment. Cold more concerned with the cool down in temperatures during the temperature set in after a warm start to winter. Precipitation for last week of December. As of December 28 wheat 7% excellent, December measured 1.9 inches in Kent County, 2.0 inches in 65% good, 25% fair, 3% poor. The heaviest of rains that fell New Castle County, and 2.1 inches of rainfall in Sussex County. during the month were across southern state with reports of All three counties received less than normal amounts of rainfall, streams, rivers flooding their banks. The cooler weather that resulting in low groundwater table levels. Small grains are prevailed at the end of the month did help firm up feedlots, fields holding up through the dry weather, but moisture will be needed for livestock, manure applications. Farmers were spending their soon. days preparing for the upcoming tax season, placing early seed, chemical orders for next years crop. FLORIDA: Hot temperatures persisted throughout most of December. Spotty showers brought significant rains to a few INDIANA: Precipitation was mostly rain during the month, with scattered localities. However, most areas remained dry until a some central, southern areas receiving heavy amounts. Flooding storm front crossing the State dropped up to a half inch at the occurred in many river bottom fields. Very little snow fell, except end of the month. This front also caused temperatures to fall to for the extreme northern regions. Warmer than normal freezing levels over most of the Panhandle and northern temperatures prevailed until late in the month when colder than Peninsula, brought some frost to a few central localities. The normal temperatures arrived with lows reaching the single digits. mild conditions for most of the month allowed field work to stay Some fieldwork was accomplished during the month. Many on schedule, hastened the ripening of fruits, vegetables. Many farmers were tilling soils, applying fertilizer the first two weeks. citrus trees sprouted new foliage and started to produce bloom Scattered fields of corn were harvested in early December. buds due to the early-spring-like weather. The oldest strawberry Farmers were moving grain to market, attending FSA offices for plants ripened about two weeks ahead of normal. Cotton LDP payments. Pastures, forage crops are in mostly good producers finished harvesting in the Panhandle, northern condition heading into winter. Hay supplies are adequate to Peninsula, while sugarcane planting, cutting made steady surplus. Winter wheat is in fair to mostly good condition. progress. Harvesting of early, mid-season oranges for processing Livestock is in mostly good condition. Major activities: Chopping reached a near record pace after mid-month. Vegetable stalks, record keeping, stripping, marketing tobacco, building harvesting continued at a steady pace for most of the month. fence, repairing, cleaning up equipment, attending trade shows, hauling manure, clearing brush, spreading lime, caring for GEORGIA: Temperatures for December were well above livestock. normal, except for the last week which was near normal to below normal. Most areas of the State received between 1.5 to 2 IOWA: Soil moisture 6% very short, 24% short, 68% inches of rain for the month. This is about half of normal. Most adequate, 2% surplus. Summary for December 2001. Above cotton, soybean fields were harvested by mid month. Pecan normal temperatures extended fall weather, allowed producers to harvest was winding down. Planting of small grains was about complete additional fieldwork during December. The average complete. The small grain crops were in fair to good condition. depth of snow cover was only 1 inch, compared to 16 inches at Small grain top dressing occurred during December. Onion the close of 2000. The average depth of frost penetration was 4 transplanting was almost complete. Condition was mostly fair. inches, well below the previous year’s 15 inches. Grain